Thrumster calf has a big heart
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LORNA the Jersey calf born at Thrumster Mains farm just over a month ago probably has no idea why she gets so much attention.
A natural heart-shaped marking in the middle of her forehead certainly makes her stand out but along with her twin brother Marryot they are no ordinary cattle. David Campbell has a small dairy herd comprising of 20 Jerseys at his farm and is raising them to organic standards.
David Campbell said: "The milk goes to Tain for Highland Fine Cheeses. It's got a high-fat content and the cheeses it's used in are Minger and Fat Cow."
Mr Campbell has the first pedigree herd of Jerseys in the north of Scotland and his farm has been organic for the last 11 years.
"Everything is organic. We don't use fertilisers or sprays. There are a lot of inspections and hoops to go through."
Thrumster Mains is inspected by Red Tractor – a world leading farm and food assurance scheme that provides traceable, safe food.
The twin calves were produced via artificial insemination by local technician Willie Mackay. On hearing the news that twins had been born Mr Mackay was delighted.
He said: "Twins in cattle are determined by the cows reproductive tract and around one in two hundred calving cows will have twins. From this, half of the births will have a bull calf and a heifer calf like what happened at Thrumster Mains."
The insemination was carried out nine months ago by AI Willie Mackay using sexed heifer semen from the top Cogent Jersey bull Sunset Canyon Got Maid .
Sexed heifer semen can only give a 90 per cent assurance that all born will be female, said Mr Mackay. "I'm delighted for David Campbell who is making great strides with his pedigree Jersey herd of cattle and the quality milk they produce."
